Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building » Disaster-proof designhttp://inhabitat.com
Green design & eco innovation for a better worldTue, 31 Mar 2015 20:11:12 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.1Japan is building a 250-mile concrete sea wall to keep tsunamis at bayhttp://inhabitat.com/japan-is-building-a-250-mile-concrete-sea-wall-to-keep-tsunamis-at-bay/
http://inhabitat.com/japan-is-building-a-250-mile-concrete-sea-wall-to-keep-tsunamis-at-bay/#commentsWed, 25 Mar 2015 21:25:36 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=730822It’s an age-old philosophy: if you want to keep something out, just build a big wall. That’s exactly how Japan is approaching future tsunamis in the wake of the 2011 disaster that wiped out much of its northeastern coast and incited the Fukushima meltdown. ]]>

It’s an age-old philosophy: if you want to keep something out, just build a big wall. That’s exactly how Japan is approaching future tsunamis in the wake of the 2011 disaster that wiped out much of its northeastern coast and incited the Fukushima meltdown. The country is in the process of building a roughly 250-mile-long chain of cement sea walls along its coastline—some of which are five stories high in places—with the aim of keeping future giant waves at bay.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/japan-is-building-a-250-mile-concrete-sea-wall-to-keep-tsunamis-at-bay/feed/0China’s petite Pinch Library wins big in 2014 design awardshttp://inhabitat.com/chinas-petite-pinch-library-wins-big-in-2014-design-awards/
http://inhabitat.com/chinas-petite-pinch-library-wins-big-in-2014-design-awards/#commentsThu, 19 Mar 2015 21:19:31 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=729043In an earthquake-ravaged village in the Yunnan Province of China, architects John Lin and Olivier Ottevaere built the Pinch library, a wave-roofed community center that doubles as a play structure and a memorial to the September 2012 natural disaster. The]]>

]]>http://inhabitat.com/chinas-petite-pinch-library-wins-big-in-2014-design-awards/feed/0Learn about water-sensitive urban design for FREE with this online coursehttp://inhabitat.com/learn-about-water-sensitive-urban-design-for-free-with-this-online-course/
http://inhabitat.com/learn-about-water-sensitive-urban-design-for-free-with-this-online-course/#commentsThu, 12 Mar 2015 18:58:46 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=728483Water, water everywhere.
Developing water-sensitive urban areas is rapidly becoming a key factor in sustainability, but it's a challenging topic with a lot of moving parts. FutureLearn has partnered with Australia's Monash University to offer a free online]]>

Water, water everywhere—even in the city. Developing water-sensitive urban areas is rapidly becoming a key factor in sustainability, but it’s a challenging topic with a lot of moving parts. FutureLearn has partnered with Australia’s Monash University to offer a free online course for anyone interested in learning more about the complex relationship between water and sustainable cities. The seven-week course, entitled “Water for Liveable and Resilient Cities,” seeks to educate people about methods for protecting waterways and wetlands within urban spaces, as well as reducing flood risk and damage. The course also includes discussions on how to create public spaces for the purpose of harvesting, cleaning, and recycling water. Check out Future Learn‘s website for this and a lot of other exciting—and free—online courses.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/learn-about-water-sensitive-urban-design-for-free-with-this-online-course/feed/0Could a Spillway Bar Pavilion Manage Seine Flooding in Paris?http://inhabitat.com/could-a-spillway-bar-pavilion-manage-seine-flooding-in-paris/
http://inhabitat.com/could-a-spillway-bar-pavilion-manage-seine-flooding-in-paris/#commentsTue, 24 Feb 2015 17:50:17 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=673455With water levels rising worldwide, there's a very real risk of floods in any city that has a river at its core. Architect Dr. Margot Krasojević has envisioned a dynamic spillway pavilion that could play a vital role in Paris' flood control infrastructure. An]]>

With water levels rising worldwide, there’s a very real risk of floods in any city that has a river at its core, and architect Dr. Margot Krasojević has envisioned a dynamic pavilion that could play a vital role in Paris’ flood control infrastructure. An enclosed circular glass bar rests over a bell mouth spillway, allowing water to enter from its entire perimeter and move into the channel. The circular bar directs water through ramps into the spillway, which is situated beneath a moveable glass floor. The bar’s industrial function is combined with a monocoque shell, showcasing the interior’s reflective nature as it supports the water’s weight. Etched glass adds an ethereal feel to the lattice structure, filtering water as it’s channeled upstream into nearby reservoirs via submerged canals.

This manner of flood protection is as beautiful as it is utilitarian, and would certainly do justice to “La Ville-Lumière“.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/could-a-spillway-bar-pavilion-manage-seine-flooding-in-paris/feed/5The new male birth control pill could be up to 99% effective!http://inhabitat.com/the-new-male-birth-control-pill-could-be-up-to-99-effective/
http://inhabitat.com/the-new-male-birth-control-pill-could-be-up-to-99-effective/#commentsTue, 16 Dec 2014 22:48:56 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=709883Men! The responsibility for whether you have children or not could soon be completely upon you. According to scientists from Airlangga University in Indonesia, a male contraceptive pill derived from the plant Justicia gendarussa is '99% effective,' meaning]]>

Men! The responsibility for whether you have children or not could soon be completely upon you. According to scientists from Airlangga University in Indonesia, a male contraceptive pill derived from the plant Justicia gendarussa is ’99% effective,’ meaning that the responsibility of birth control may soon no longer lie solely with women…not that it should. However, remember guys, Inhabitat believes in safe sex, so please still use protection!

]]>http://inhabitat.com/the-new-male-birth-control-pill-could-be-up-to-99-effective/feed/0IKEA’s extraordinary solar-powered disaster shelters receive honorary design awardhttp://inhabitat.com/ikeas-extraordinary-solar-powered-disaster-shelters-receive-honorary-design-award/
http://inhabitat.com/ikeas-extraordinary-solar-powered-disaster-shelters-receive-honorary-design-award/#commentsThu, 11 Dec 2014 18:17:06 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=708993In 2013, the formidable team sought to design easily deployable shelters that not only provided for the basic needs of those requiring emergency housing, but that could also provide more than a simple modicum of privacy, comfort and dignity. The shed-like]]>

]]>http://inhabitat.com/ikeas-extraordinary-solar-powered-disaster-shelters-receive-honorary-design-award/feed/0Pocket-Sized Lantern Connects You to the World Even When There’s No Internet Servicehttp://inhabitat.com/pocket-sized-lantern-connects-you-to-the-world-even-when-theres-no-internet-service/
http://inhabitat.com/pocket-sized-lantern-connects-you-to-the-world-even-when-theres-no-internet-service/#commentsFri, 28 Nov 2014 06:00:49 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=706348An estimated 4.3 billion people around the world don't have internet access. In times of natural disasters, internet and phone connections also frequently fail. Lantern is a pocket-sized device designed to bring connectivity to those without internet access,]]>

An estimated 4.3 billion people around the world don’t have internet access. In times of natural disasters, internet and phone connections also frequently fail. Lantern is a pocket-sized device designed to bring connectivity to those without internet access, using satellite-broadcast radio waves. The company behind Lantern, Outernet, aims to provide users with an anonymous, portable library that constantly receives free data from space. The device is currently acing its Indiegogo campaign, so read on for details on becoming an early adopter.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/pocket-sized-lantern-connects-you-to-the-world-even-when-theres-no-internet-service/feed/3How to Prepare Your Home and Family for a Hurricane or Superstormhttp://inhabitat.com/how-to-prepare-your-home-and-family-for-a-hurricane/
http://inhabitat.com/how-to-prepare-your-home-and-family-for-a-hurricane/#commentsFri, 07 Nov 2014 20:00:47 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=700734After Hurricane Sandy, which devastated the East Coast in 2012, it’s more important than ever to make sure you, your home and your family are prepared to weather hurricane season when it strikes—as it inevitably does each year, on coastal areas all over]]>

After Hurricane Sandy, which devastated the East Coast in 2012, it’s more important than ever to make sure you, your home and your family are prepared to weather hurricane season when it strikes—as it inevitably does each year, on coastal areas all over the world. While you can never predict when, where, and with what force a superstorm will strike, you can make sure that you have what you need and have taken the proper steps to be ready when it does. Here are some simple steps you can take to increase your odds of successfully weathering the storm.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/how-to-prepare-your-home-and-family-for-a-hurricane/feed/0VIDEO: Stanford Team Successfully Tests Earthquake-Resistant Househttp://inhabitat.com/video-stanford-team-successfully-test-earthquake-resistant-house/
http://inhabitat.com/video-stanford-team-successfully-test-earthquake-resistant-house/#commentsFri, 17 Oct 2014 21:30:12 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=697634https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z30rcg3buuw
A team of Stanford engineers have built and tested an earthquake-resistant house that sits on top of sliding "isolators" to ride out tremors. The test house, which also makes use of heavy-duty reinforcing, withstood]]>

A team of Stanford engineers have built and tested an earthquake-resistant house that sits on top of sliding “isolators” to ride out tremors. The test house, which also makes use of heavy-duty reinforcing, withstood an earthquake simulation that was three times the intensity of the Bay Area’s devastating 1989 Loma Prieta quake. The team says the modifications are inexpensive and could easily be used in new home construction where their costs would soon be offset by reduced earthquake insurance premiums.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/video-stanford-team-successfully-test-earthquake-resistant-house/feed/0Dutchman Johan Huibers Opens His Life-Size Noah’s Ark to the Publichttp://inhabitat.com/dutchman-johan-huibers-opens-his-life-size-noahs-ark-to-the-public/
http://inhabitat.com/dutchman-johan-huibers-opens-his-life-size-noahs-ark-to-the-public/#commentsMon, 13 Oct 2014 21:18:08 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=417483We first reported on Huibers' Ark last year when the massive structure (it's so big, it's classed as a building not a boat!) was nearing completion. Now that the Ark is officially open to the public, more details have been revealed.
Firstly, while it does]]>

]]>http://inhabitat.com/dutchman-johan-huibers-opens-his-life-size-noahs-ark-to-the-public/feed/7East Coast Flooding Will be 10 Times Worse in 30 Years Due to Climate Changehttp://inhabitat.com/report-warns-climate-driven-tidal-floods-threaten-u-s-east-and-gulf-coasts/
http://inhabitat.com/report-warns-climate-driven-tidal-floods-threaten-u-s-east-and-gulf-coasts/#commentsMon, 13 Oct 2014 21:17:59 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=696175The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) just released a new report warning that rising sea levels from global warming could increase flooding during high tides on the East Coast and Gulf Coast of the United States -- potentially tripling flood events in 15]]>

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) just released a new report warning that rising sea levels from global warming could increase flooding during high tides on the East Coast and Gulf Coast of the United States — potentially tripling flood events in 15 years and inundating coastal communities with a ten-fold increase in 30 years. The study, ominously titled “Encroaching Tides,” analyzed 52 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tide gauges in Atlantic and Gulf cities stretching from Portland, Maine to Freeport, Texas. The study projects that by 2030, more than half of the 52 communities will experience, on average, at least 24 tidal floods per year and by 2045, most of the towns would see at least 48 floods at high tide each year. At least nine of those communities are expected to experience a whopping 240 tidal floods per year in 30 years, when sea levels are expected to rise at least one foot.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/report-warns-climate-driven-tidal-floods-threaten-u-s-east-and-gulf-coasts/feed/0INHABITAT INTERVIEW: Water Architect Koen Olthuis on Floating Buildings & Hydro-Citieshttp://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-interview-water-architect-koen-olthuis-on-floating-buildings-hydro-cities/
http://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-interview-water-architect-koen-olthuis-on-floating-buildings-hydro-cities/#commentsMon, 29 Sep 2014 04:02:40 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=248075Architect Koen Olthuis of Waterstudio.nl has been fascinating the Inhabitat editors for years with his innovative floating buildings and aqua-tecture. Far from being confined by convention -- or by the boundaries of dry land -- Olthuis has made a name for]]>

]]>http://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-interview-water-architect-koen-olthuis-on-floating-buildings-hydro-cities/feed/22HydroGuard is an Affordable One-Size-Fits-All Flood Barrier That Could Save Homeowners Thousands in Damageshttp://inhabitat.com/hydroguard-is-an-affordable-one-size-fits-all-solution-flood-barrier-that-could-save-homeowners-thousands-in-damages/
http://inhabitat.com/hydroguard-is-an-affordable-one-size-fits-all-solution-flood-barrier-that-could-save-homeowners-thousands-in-damages/#commentsFri, 19 Sep 2014 14:30:12 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=690251Whether caused by a natural disaster or a burst pipe, flood damage can be devastating to your home. Unfortunately, many homeowners are ill prepared for rising floodwaters due to the expensive costs of barriers and the hassle of sandbags. That's why Hannes]]>

Whether caused by a natural disaster or a burst pipe, flood damage can be devastating to your home. Unfortunately, many homeowners are ill prepared for rising floodwaters due to the expensive costs of barriers and the hassle of sandbags. That’s why Hannes Floto, a two-time victim of flooding, teamed up with designers to invent HydroGuard, a simple and effective one-time investment designed to keep your home dry in the event of a flood. This reusable and easy-to-install flood barrier can be adjusted to fit any doorframe and uses a secure seal to defend against fast flowing water. The HydroGuard team is currently crowd sourcing funding for their design in an Indiegogo campaign – support it here!

]]>http://inhabitat.com/hydroguard-is-an-affordable-one-size-fits-all-solution-flood-barrier-that-could-save-homeowners-thousands-in-damages/feed/0INHABITAT INTERVIEW: Water Architect Koen Olthuis on How to Embrace Rising Sea Levelshttp://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-interview-water-architect-koen-olthuis-on-how-to-embrace-rising-sea-levels/
http://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-interview-water-architect-koen-olthuis-on-how-to-embrace-rising-sea-levels/#commentsThu, 28 Aug 2014 04:57:56 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=668517Sea levels are rising, floods are prevalent, and cities are at greater risk than ever due to climate change. Now that we've accepted these facts, it's time to design and build more resilient structures. Koen Olthuis, one of the most forward-thinking and innovative]]>

Sea levels are rising, floods are prevalent, and cities are at greater risk than ever due to climate change. Now that we’ve accepted these facts, it’s time to design and build more resilient structures. Koen Olthuis, one of the most forward-thinking and innovative architects out there, has a solution for rising sea levels. His solution: Embrace the water by incorporating it into our cities; creating resilient buildings and infrastructure that can handle extreme flooding, heavy rains, and higher water. Olthuis and his team at Waterstudio.nl have been showing coastal communities the benefits of building on the water. With countries like the Maldives and Kiribati having to build oceanside or move in order to escape rising sea levels, New York learning to battle storm surges, and Jakarta dealing with massive flooding, embracing water may be our only option for survival. We chatted with Olthuis about how coastal cities can become more resilient in the face of change—read on for our interview!

]]>http://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-interview-water-architect-koen-olthuis-on-how-to-embrace-rising-sea-levels/feed/0Can Flying Cars Save Lives in Disaster Zones?http://inhabitat.com/can-flying-cars-save-lives-in-disaster-zones/
http://inhabitat.com/can-flying-cars-save-lives-in-disaster-zones/#commentsWed, 27 Aug 2014 18:30:31 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=681988Flying cars belong more in a Jetson's episode than in real life, right? Wrong, flying cars are here, but will they take off? The Indigenous People's Technology and Education Center (I-TEC), an organization in Ecuador started by missionary Steven Saint, has]]>

Flying cars belong more in a Jetson’s episode than in real life, right? Wrong, flying cars are here, but will they take off? The Indigenous People’s Technology and Education Center (I-TEC), an organization in Ecuador started by missionary Steven Saint, has invented The Maverick, a lightweight flying vehicle equipped with a propeller at the back and a deployable parachute. The Maverick was developed specifically for missionary purposes and humanitarian applications such as transporting medics and teachers to remote areas.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/can-flying-cars-save-lives-in-disaster-zones/feed/0Lack of Funding Delays California Earthquake Early Warning Systemhttp://inhabitat.com/lack-of-funding-delays-california-earthquake-early-warning-system/
http://inhabitat.com/lack-of-funding-delays-california-earthquake-early-warning-system/#commentsWed, 27 Aug 2014 16:07:13 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=683927An earthquake early warning system for California was finalized two years ago and passed into law last year, but it has not yet been implemented pending funding. Given that estimates of the cost of last weekend's Napa Valley quake are reaching $1 billion,]]>

An earthquake early warning system for California was finalized two years ago and passed into law last year, but it has not yet been implemented pending funding. Given that estimates of the cost of last weekend’s Napa Valley quake are reaching $1 billion, why has the system not been implemented when the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates early warning coverage for California, Washington and Oregon would cost a comparably cheaper $38 million to build?

]]>http://inhabitat.com/lack-of-funding-delays-california-earthquake-early-warning-system/feed/0Shigeru Ban Unveils Donut-Shaped Solar Community Center for Fukushima Kidshttp://inhabitat.com/louis-vuitton-funds-donut-shaped-solar-powered-community-center-for-fukushima-kids/
http://inhabitat.com/louis-vuitton-funds-donut-shaped-solar-powered-community-center-for-fukushima-kids/#commentsMon, 18 Aug 2014 21:13:38 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=681475The LVMH Kodomo Art Maison is a new community center dedicated to children in Fukushima to support disaster relief efforts. The two-story building was designed and built by Shigeru Ban and the Voluntary Architect's Network. It recently opened in July, 2014]]>

]]>http://inhabitat.com/louis-vuitton-funds-donut-shaped-solar-powered-community-center-for-fukushima-kids/feed/1The Cost of Doing Nothing: The Economist Looks At How Climate Change Threatens Our Economyhttp://inhabitat.com/the-cost-of-doing-nothing-the-economist-looks-at-how-climate-change-threatens-our-economy/
http://inhabitat.com/the-cost-of-doing-nothing-the-economist-looks-at-how-climate-change-threatens-our-economy/#commentsSun, 10 Aug 2014 17:33:38 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=671165This past May was the hottest on record ever, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The average surface temperature around the world was almost 1°C above its average last century, and Alaska almost 2°C over its average. There's]]>

This past May was the hottest on record ever, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The average surface temperature around the world was almost 1°C above its average last century, and Alaska almost 2°C over its average. There’s no denying that climate change is already happening, so the question we need to start asking ourselves now is how is this going to impact our lives, and how can we prepare? Astute business analysts are asking the obvious question: how is this going to impact our economy? A new study highlighted by The Economist magazine looks at precisely this question and tries to calculate the economic cost of climate change. Examining everything from the threat of rising sea levels to coastal real-estate (from Miami to New York City), the economic impact on farming (from increased temperatures and decreased precipitation), to the economic impact of increasingly erratic weather patterns on businesses, homeowners and farming, The Economist takes an in-depth look at what climate change is going to mean for business in the coming decades. Read on to find out more.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/the-cost-of-doing-nothing-the-economist-looks-at-how-climate-change-threatens-our-economy/feed/5INHABITAT INTERVIEW: Koen Olthuis of WaterStudio.nl Talks About Design for a Water Worldhttp://inhabitat.com/interview-koen-olthius-of-waterstudionl/
http://inhabitat.com/interview-koen-olthius-of-waterstudionl/#commentsTue, 08 Jul 2014 04:40:37 +0000http://inhabitat.com/blog/2006/08/29/interview-koen-olthius-of-waterstudionl/In light of all the dire news related to climate change, rising sea levels and the natural disasters which have stricken numerous coastal areas around the world, we here at Inhabitat would like to highlight an interview Inhabitat Editor-in-Chief Jill Fehrenbacher]]>

In light of all the dire news related to climate change, rising sea levels and the natural disasters which have stricken numerous coastal areas around the world, we here at Inhabitat would like to highlight an interview Inhabitat Editor-in-Chief Jill Fehrenbacher conducted with architect Koen Olthuis of Waterstudio.nl. A studio focused on designing for a future water world, Olthuis has been at the forefront of this once unconventional, yet now timely design vernacular. Olthuis says that despite our civilization’s history of trying to drain and fight against wet landscapes for the past thousand years, our best move for the future would be to “let water in and even make friends with the water.” Read on for the fascinating interview where Olthius describes his what designing for water landscapes worldwide really means.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/interview-koen-olthius-of-waterstudionl/feed/35Physicist Wants to Build 1,000-Foot Walls to Prevent Tornadoes from Destroying the Midwesthttp://inhabitat.com/physicist-wants-to-build-1000-foot-walls-to-prevent-tornadoes-from-destroying-the-midwest/
http://inhabitat.com/physicist-wants-to-build-1000-foot-walls-to-prevent-tornadoes-from-destroying-the-midwest/#commentsSun, 29 Jun 2014 13:40:02 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=665455Temple University physicist Rongjia Tao wants to build massive 1,000-foot high, 165-foot thick walls around the American Midwest to keep the tornadoes out. It may sound outlandish, but the proposal is based on the fact that the Chinese plains have few tornadoes.]]>

Temple University physicist Rongjia Tao wants to build massive 1,000-foot high, 165-foot thick walls around the American Midwest to keep the tornadoes out. It may sound outlandish, but the proposal is based on the fact that the Chinese plains have few tornadoes. This is because they are surrounded by mountain ranges which slow down passing winds and prevent the formation of twisters.